Gun Laws in Florida

Subject/Law	Long Guns	Hand Guns	Relevant Statutes	Notes
State permit required to purchase?	No	No
Waiting period?	Yes	Yes	Fla. Const. Article VIII § 5(b) Fla. Stat. § 790.0655	The mandatory waiting period is 3 days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, or expires upon the completion of the records checks, whichever occurs later. Individual counties can require a waiting period of up to five days. This requirement is waived for holders of a Florida Concealed Weapon license.
Firearm registration?	No	No	Fla. Stat. § 790.335
Assault weapon law?	No	No
Magazine capacity restriction?	No	No
Owner license required?	No	No
Red Flag law?	Yes	Yes	Fla. Stat. § 790.401	The police can get judicial approval to confiscate, for up to a year, the firearms of a person deemed a danger to themselves or others.
Permit required for concealed carry?	N/A	No	Florida does not require a permit for conceal carry
Permit required for open carry?	N/A	N/A	Fla. Stat. § 790.053 Fla. Stat. § 790.25(3)	Open carry of firearms is generally banned except for certain protected places and activities, including in the home, place of work, hunting, fishing, camping, or while practice shooting and while traveling to and from those activities.
Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground law?	Yes	Yes
State preemption of local restrictions?	Yes	Yes	Fla. Stat. § 790.33
NFA weapons restricted?	No	No	Fla. Stat. § 790.161 Fla. Stat. § 790.222
Peaceable Journey laws?	No	No
Background checks required for private sales?	No	No
Purchase age restriction?	Yes	Yes	Fla. Stat. § 790.065(13)	The sale or transfer of a firearm to a person younger than 18 years of age may not be made or facilitated by a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer. The law restricting all long guns to those over 18 years old

Gun Laws by State: Florida

Understanding Gun Laws in Florida

Florida, like every other state, has its own set of gun laws. These laws regulate everything from the purchase and registration of firearms to their use and transportation. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of Florida's gun laws, making them easy to understand for everyone.

Permits and Purchases

In Florida, there is no state permit required to purchase either long guns or handguns. This means that any law-abiding citizen can purchase a firearm without needing to obtain a permit from the state.

However, Florida does have a waiting period for the purchase of firearms. According to Fla. Const. Article VIII § 5(b) and Fla. Stat. § 790.0655, there is a mandatory waiting period of 3 days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, or until the completion of the records checks, whichever occurs later. However, this requirement is waived for holders of a Florida Concealed Weapon license.

Registration and Restrictions

Florida does not require the registration of firearms. There are also no laws in Florida that restrict the possession of assault weapons or limit magazine capacity. This means that there are no restrictions on the type or capacity of firearms that can be owned in the state.

However, Florida does have a Red Flag law. According to Fla. Stat. § 790.401, the police can get judicial approval to confiscate the firearms of a person deemed a danger to themselves or others for up to a year.

Carrying Firearms

Florida does not require a permit for concealed carry of handguns. However, open carry of firearms is generally banned except in certain protected places and activities, including in the home, place of work, hunting, fishing, camping, or while practice shooting and while traveling to and from those activities, according to Fla. Stat. § 790.053 and Fla. Stat. § 790.25(3).

Additional Laws

Florida has a Castle Doctrine/Stand Your Ground law, which allows individuals to use force, including deadly force, to defend themselves against an intruder in their home or any other place where they have a legal right to be.

Florida also has a state preemption of local restrictions law, as per Fla. Stat. § 790.33. This means that local governments cannot enact gun laws that are more restrictive than state law.

Lastly, the sale or transfer of a firearm to a person younger than 18 years of age may not be made or facilitated by a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer, as stated in Fla. Stat. § 790.065(13). This law restricts all long guns to those over 18 years old.

Understanding these laws is crucial for anyone who owns a firearm or is considering purchasing one in the state of Florida. Always remember to handle firearms responsibly and in accordance with the law.